St Paul's choristers fight back against Occupy London cathedral closure with singing flashmob

Choristers at St Paul's are fighting back against the enforced closure of the
cathedral with a singing flashmob.

While the likes of Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews might be missing from the congregation, dozens are expected to turn out for the hour-long service in the street near the steps of the cathedral at 5pm tonight.

Relations between St Paul's and the Occupy protests hit a low note last week when the cathedral was forced to close its doors to the public for the first time since World War II.

The cathedral has now been closed for a fifth day over health and safety fears; the longest time it has been shut in living memory. At the height of the Blitz, German Luftwaffe bombers only managed to keep the cathedral closed for four days.

But the musical mob will be putting some cheer back into the place of worship with an evensong service amid the tents of the anti-capitalist encampment.

The group, complete with choir conductor, will be singing a number of hymns including Christ is Made the Sure Foundation and O God, Our Help In Ages Past.

They will also be several prayer readings with a number of Clergy expected to join the flashmob.

The singalong has been orchestrated on Twitter by St Paul's parishioners who are determined that the Occupy protesters do not stop their worship.

Kathryn Rose, who organised the St Paul's-in-the-camp Flashmob Evensong, said in her blog: "A cathedral is more than architecture and establishment. Cathedrals exist to serve the local community, as well as to support parish churches in their work.

"Their primary task is of public worship, and it is difficult to see how Occupy LSX are a significant threat to that."

The choir may continue to hold the flashmob evensong depending on how long St Paul's is closed for worship.

Anyone wanting to join the musical flashmob should meet the group at 5pm outside Marks and Spencers.